Device for patching teletype code strips



April 3, 1956 J. M. SIEBEIN DEVICE FOR PATCHING TELETYPE CODE STRIPS Filed June 2, 1953 Fig.1.? 7 z\5 54 I 8 7 Fig.2.

INVENTOR.

S'iflaei n 25 25 51 21 31 Z7 Fig.3.

United States Patent 0 DEVICE FOR PATCHING TELETYPE CODE STRIPS Joseph M. Siebein, Huntington, N. Y.

Application June 2, 1953, Serial No. 359,136

3 Claims. (Cl. 154-423) The presented invention relates to improvements in Teletype equipment and, more specifically, to patching devices for teletypesetter code strips or the like which are perforated by means of typewriter-like machines and then are fed into mechanical operating units attached to linecasting machines which automatically cast the type for newspapers, books, magazines, other printed matter and other uses.

Hitherto, broken or torn code strips could not be mended without losing one or more lines due to the break, and the thus lost lines had to be substituted by timeconsuming hand setting at the linecasting machine. The same difficulty arose when parts had be added to the type or when some parts had to be left out.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the chaaracter described which connects end to end, exactly, separate pieces of a code strip to each other, thus the device greatly facilitates the mending or splicing of code strips and the adding or omitting of editorial matter as well as the rewinding and cutting of code strips of any type or the joining of both ends of a strip to each other so as to make an endless strip for the repeating of lines or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which does not require any expensive plastic welding or vulcanizing but which allows the mending of a code strip by means of an inexpensive tape of paper or the like without unduly increasing the thickness of mended or spliced strip portions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which makes the mending or splicing of code strips so easy that it can be carried out without the application of any considerable amount of skill as well as without any tools in addition to my new and improved device.

Yet still another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is portable, light in weight and simple in construction but which is also sturdy, durable and well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of a preferred from of a machine which forms one part of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fractional enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a heat transfer member;

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Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fractional plan view of a code strip; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fractional plan view of a patching tape which also forms a part of my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing the numeral 1 denotes a patching tape which preferably is made of oil-treated paper of high tensile strength and of a thickness of about two thousandths of an inch. The lower side of the tape 1 is coated with a layer of heat responsive adhesive, preferably a vinyl adhesive, of a thickness of one half a thousandth to one thousandth of an inch. The tape 1 is provided with a row of feed holes 2 as well as with equally from each other spaced perforations 3. The feed holes 2 in the tape 1 register with the feed holes 4 in the code strip '5 for the patching of which the tape 1 is to be used, and the perforations 3 in the tape 1 are so dimensioned and spaced from each other as well as from the edges of the tape 1 and from the feed holes 2 that those of the perforations 3 which overlie the code perforations 6 in the strip 5 register exactly with said perforations 6 when the tape 1 has been sealed to portions of the strip 5 in the manner referred to hereinafter.

My new and improved patching tape 1 is used in connection with a machine (Figs. 1 and 2). The same has a housing 7 which preferably is mounted on a base 8 and which in its top portion has a recess 9. One end portion of the housing 7 is reduced in width and contains an electric motor which is indicated in the wiring diagram by the symbol 10. The shaft 11 of said motor is extended beyond the outer side of said reduced end portion of the housing 7, and a first code strip"feel 12 is de tachably secured to the shaft 11. A second code strip reel 14 is detachably and rotatably mounted on a bracket 15 or the like secured to the other end portion of the housing 7. The numeral 16 denotes a line-up table formed as a U-shaped channel member having a horizontal web portion and upright flange portions and being constructed and arranged for guiding over said web portion the code strip 5 which is unwound from the reel 14 and wound upon the reel 12. The motor 10 is connected to a source of electric current by means of a two-wire electric cord 17 one end of which is provided with a plug-in contact 18 (Fig. l). The motor 10 can be switched on or off by means of a switch, which preferably is a push button switch 19, although it may be also any other type of switch, and which is mounted on the housing 7. A variable resistor 20 (Fig. 4) preferably is arranged in the electric circuit of the motor 10 and is actuated by means of a knob 51 at the outer side of the housing 7 for varying the speed of the motor 10. For rewinding a code strip 5, or for reading the same, the operator lifts with his fingers the strip 5 off the web portion of the line-up table 16 and adjusts the speed of the reels 12 and 14 by turning the knob 51. Line-up pins 21 are provided preferably in the center section of the web portion of the line-up table 16, and an additional pin 22 preferably is provided at that end portion of the line-up table 16 which is near the reel 14. The pins 21 and 22 are spaced from each other proportionally according to the spacings of the holes 2 and 4, and they are so dimensioned that they can be extended through said holes easily.

When a tape 5, which is broken, for instance, along a line 23 (Fig. 5), is to be mended, it is placed upon the line-up table 16, with the pins 21 and 22 extending through some of its holes 4, in such a manner that the broken ends are abutting each other. Thus there will be no overlapping whatsoever of the broken end portions of 3 the tape 5. Then a piece of the tape 1 is placed upon said broken end portions with the aforementioned layer of adhesive at its lower side. Thereupon said piece of tape is sealed to the strip 5 by the application of heat. I prefer to carry out this sealing by means of a sealing iron or a heat transfer member consisting of a handle 24 and a base 25. Although'sa'id 'heat transfer member could be heated and designed in any suitable manner, I prefer to carry out this feature of my invention in the following manner: I secure to the base 25 by means of screws 27 a'plate 30 of metal or the like which is provided with bores 31 that register with the pins 21. Furthermore, I prefer'to provide in the housing 7 beneath the recess '9 an electric heater, whi h is indicated in the diagram of Fig. 4 by the numeral The member '39 fits into the recess 9 and is placed hereinto for a length of time necessary for heating'itto such a degree that it when removed from the recess 9 and placed upon the tape 1Will seal the same to the strip 5, thereby driving a portion of the adhesive into the strip 5, so that the thickness of th'e'thus sealed strip will be less than the thickness of the strip 5'plus the thickness of the tape 1 plus the thickness of the original layer of adhesive. The pins 21 extending into the bores 31 during the sealing will avoid any unwanted shifting of the parts '1, 5 and 30 relatively to each other.

I have found that, in order to accomplish the aforementioned sealing most perfectly, the temperature of the member 30 has to be about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to facilitate the heating of the member '30 to the proper temperature, I prefer to insert into the electrio circuit of the heater 32 a thermostat 33 which is mounted within the housing 7' and which will interrupt the electric heating circuit when the, proper temperature has been attained. A switch 34 controlling said heating circuit and a lamp 35 for indicating whether the switch 34 is in the on position or in the oii position also are mounted on the housing 7. The wiring of the lamp 35 is shown in Fig. 4 in suchja manner that it will burn whenever the switch 34 is closed, irrespective of whether or not the thermostat 33 has interrupted the heating circuit. The lamp 35 also could be wired in such a manner (not shown) that itwili burn only as long as the heating circuit is closed by the thermostat 33.

Any suitable code strip cutting means are provided on the housing 7. I'prefe'r to form the same of a'pair of bars 37 and 40, which are pivoted to each other at 41 (Fig. 2). The bar 37 is secured to the housing 7 adjacent that end of the line-up table 16, which is near the reel 14, and the bar 40, is provided with ahandle 42.. When said cuttingid'evice is openthe'bar 4D is 'angularly disposed to the bar 37, so that "the strip '5 runs over the bar 37 to the line-up table 16. I'f'the strip 5 ,isto be cut for editing purposes, for instance 'for correcting, leaving out a piece or for adding a piece of code strip, the bar 40 is moved from its aforementioned position to a position in which it is parallel to the: bar 37, thereby cutting the tape 5.

A legend sheet 43 (Fig. 1) preferably is attached to the top of the housing 7 near the line-up table '16.

Since certain changes mal be made'in the above article and difierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained' in the. above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall-The inter- I preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense! i It isalso to be understood that'tlie followingclajms are intended to cover all of the generic and specific. features of the invention herein described, and an statements of the scope of the invention which as a matterof language might be said to 'fall therebetween.

Having thus iully described my said-finvention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-is:

1. A device for patching a Teletype codestrip, which hasffeed holes and code perforations, witha, tape of thin high tensile strength material which has a layer of heat responsive adhesive on one side and is provided with feed holes as well as with perforations equally spaced from each other and from said feed holes, comprising a line-up table formed as a U-shaped channel member having a horizontal web portion and upright flange portions and being constructed and arranged for guiding over said Web portion the Teletype code strip, line-up pins upwardly extending from said web portion and being spaced from each other proportionally to the spacing of said feed holes in said tape, means for heating said tape to a predetermined temperature so as to seal hte same by means of said heat responsive adhesive to separate portions of said code strip, means for cutting said code strip being provided at one end of said lineup table, reels for winding said code strip being rotatably mounted near the ends of said line-up table, and means for driving one of said reels.

2. A device for patching a Teletype code strip, which has feed holes and code perforations, with atape of thin high tensile strength oil treated paper which has a layer of heat responsive adhesive on one side and is provided with feed holes as well as with perforations equally spaced from 'each other and ironrsaid feed holes, comprising a line-up table formed as a U-shaped channel member having a horizontal web portion andupright flange portions and being constructed and arranged for guiding over said web portion a code strip which has feed holes as well as code perforations, line-up pins upwardly extending from said web portion being spaced from each other proportionally to the spacing of the feed holes in said tape, a housing on the outer side of which a line-'upftable is mounted having a recess in its top portion, a heat'trans'ier member having a handle portion and a base portion fitting into said recess and being of a width which is less than the distance between the flange portions of said line-up table and being provided with bores adapted for receiving said line-up pins when said base portion is placed on said line-up table, a source of heat within said housing beneath said recess, thermostatic means controlling. said source otheat for heating the basev portion of said heat. transfer member when the same is placedinto said recess to such a degree that it, when removed from said recess and placed upon that side of said tape, which is not provided with said adhesive, will cause a sealing of the tape to separate portions of said code strip, means of cutting said code strip being provided at the top of said'housing, a pair. of reels rotatably mounted on the end portions of said housing being constructed and arranged for allowing the code strip to pass over said line-up table from the, first one ofsaidre'els to'the second-one, and: means for drivingil'le second reel at variable speeds being mounted on said housing.

3. A device for patching afTeletype code strip, which has feed holes and code perforations, with a tape of thin high. tensile strength material which has a layer of heat responsive adhesive on one side and is provided with perforations equally'spaced from each other and from said feed holes, comprising a *line-up table constructed and arranged -for having said code strip passing overit, line-up pins upwardly extending from saidtable being constructed and arranged for extending through some 1 of-said feed holes, a housing carrying said line-up table hav-ing a recess inits topportion, a heat transfer manhol -having: a'handle portionand a base portion fitting loosely into said recess and being provided with bores adapted for receiving. said line-up pins when said .base portion is placed on said line-up table, an elm-trio one-end to an and of :said .first :barv .iorming: therewith a cutting device for the codeqstrip, a-switch mounted on said housing controlling the electric circuit of said heating device, an electrically illuminated member mounted on said housing being in the electric circuit of said heating device for indicating whether said circuit is open or closed, an electric motor within said housing having a shaft extending beyond the outer side of one end portion of said housing, a pair of reels the first of which is rotatably mounted on that end of said housing which is opposite said shaft and the second of which is secured to said shaft being constructed and arranged for allowing the code strip to pass over said line-up table from the first one of said reels to the second one, and a variable resistor in the electric circuit of said motor being mounted on said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hayden July 4, 1933 Bacon June 24, 1941 Phillips Apr. 3, 1945 De Vry Aug. 10 1948 Herzig et al. Apr. 26, 1949 Waggoner Aug. 30, 1949 Fritzinger June 20, 1950 Daniel et al. Jan. 3, 1951 Wallingsford Aug. 21, 1951 Eisenberg Dec. 4, 1951 Speed et al. Dec. 29, 1953 

